104 
BULLETIN 1399, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
THE GERMAN MARKET FOR AMERICAN 
PRODUCTS 12 
AGRICULTURAL 
ECONOMIC CHANGES IN GERMANY 
In the 25 years before the war Germany passed through a period 
of tremendous industrial development. During this period the 
population of its industrial cities and the number of factory workers 
were trebled, its railway traffic almost quadrupled, and its bank 
deposits increased to seven times the amount at the beginning of 
the period. 
In the same period the agricultural population remained practi- 
cally stationary, although the application of improved methods 
greatly increased production. On the whole, however, Germany 
became increasingly dependent on foreign sources of supply. Ger- 
many became a large importer, not only of food products but of 
raw materials to be worked up in its mills for export to other coun- 
tries. Since the United States produced a surplus of these raw 
materials and foodstuffs, Germany became, next to the United 
Kingdom, our best market for agricultural products. 
As a result of the war, German industrial life has been thrown 
into confusion. By the loss and occupation of its chief industrial 
centers and the requisitioning of its coal and ore for reparations in 
kind it has been impossible in seven years for German factories to 
roach former standards of production or efficiency. Furthermore, 
foreign markets for manufactured products lost during the war have 
not all been regained. 
German agriculture has undergone a great setback. It has not 
suffered as much as German industry, although the soils have been 
considerably exhausted by exploitation during and since the war. 
An increased use of fertilizers would probably eventually restore 
these soils to their former high productivity. 
The German markets for different American agricultural products 
have been variously affected by these changed economic conditions. 
The German people have been impoverished and their purchasing 
power as a whole diminished, but there are certain necessities which 
they must have, even at the sacrifice of other things formerly deemed 
important. It is therefore necessary to analyze this trade situation 
more in detail before making any broad generalizations. 
AMERICAN TRADE WITH GERMANY 
The visible balance of trade between the United States and Ger- 
many has been and still is normally favorable to the United States, 
as indicated by Table 93. 
Table 93.— Trade of the 
United States with C 
rermany (c 
ill commodities) 
Year ended 
June 30— 
Imports 
from 
Germany 
Exports to 
Germany 
Balance of 
exports 
Year ended 
June 30— 
Imports 
from 
Germany 
Exports to 
Germany 
Balance of 
exports 
1910 
Dollars 
168, 805, 137 
163,242,660 
171,380,380 
1,071 
l B0, 919, L36 
45, 085. 976 
Dollars 
249, 555, 926 
287, 195, 814 
306.959,021 
331.684,212 
344,704,276 
202, 176, 079 
Dollars 
80, 750, 789 
124,253,254 
135,578,611 
142,721,141 
154,875,140 
157,090,104 
1921 
1922 
1923 
1924. 
1925 
Dollars 
90, 773, 014 
95. 592, 004 
142, 885, 762 
146, 816, 067 
144, 764, 970 
Dollars 
381,869,349 
350, 495, 269 
293, 132,434 
;<7s,r,0,363 
464,058, 347 
Dollars 
291,096,335 
1911 
254, 903, 265 
1U12 
150,246,672 
1913 
231, 534, 296 
1914 
319, 293, 377 
1920 
Compiled from the following publications of the U. S. Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, 
Washington, I). C: Foreign Commerce and Navigation of the United States, June 30, 1914, 1915, p. xii; 
Monthly Summary of Foreign Commerce of the United States, June, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, and 1925. 
12 This section was prepared by G. B. L. Arner, agricultural statistician, Bureau of Agricultural Eco- 
nomics. 
